Canberra Research

[philhird]

Hi All,

I have to do some research into a couple of accidents for a flight safety presentation. Do any of you have any photos or further details concerning the two Canberra crashes WJ753 and WT478, of 1978 and 1981 respectively? I have the official accident reports but any further material will be gratefully received. (They don't even say which squadron or base the accidents occurred at for instance.)

Regards,

PH

[John Farley]

Googling WJ753 comes up with a fair bit. Including the following


On 19 June 1978, after a heavy landing at Marham, it swung off the runway sustaining Cat 5 damage. It was stuck off charge four days later on the 23rd June 1978.


Googling WT478 does not mention an accident


T.4 - WT478

Masquerading as the Canberra prototype RAF Wyton's T.4, WT478, is seen here at the Canberra's 40th anniversary at Wyton in 1989. "Bee" Beamont flew in it on that weekend - 40 years on.
This T.4 was deliverd to 15 MU in April 1955 and was subsequently owned by many users starting with 231 OCU. Then on to Station Flight RAF Akrotiri, then to 39Sqd, to 13Sqd, 360Sqd, 100Sqd and then back to 231 OCU. It finished its days as "BA" on 231 OCU at RAF Wyton and was in open storage there in 1992.

[SirPeterHardingsLovechild]

Tatty Ton lost one in Akrotiri in the early 80's. Lost an engine on take off, and went into the bondhu on the opposite side to ATC. Both crew killed.

We soon had a modification so that the Nav could jettison the banner, as they speculated that the pilot was too busy at the time, and had the only jettison switch.

I'm guessing that was a B2.


Then, maybe 1982, we lost another in Limassol bay. A snazzy beat up, bit of negative G, engines flamed out, glided around for a bit. Crew got out (one years loss of seniority?) That would have been a B2 as well - no fuel recuperators. I remember a print in 84 Sqn from the crew celebrating the first proper shout for the Wessex.


Then there was a PR7 of 13 Sqn lost an engine and chose the foamed runway at Bedford. I think that was Cat 5.


There's a starting point for you. There are plenty of Canberra lovers out there who will help you out eventually.

[Jackonicko]

As a sixth former, I was keen as mustard to join the RAF, and saw that the Canberra force were particularly open and accessible and keen to encourage any interest, so I visited 'Tatty Ton' a couple of times. While at UAS I had three vacation attachments with No.7, who took very good care of me, and who flew me in Canberra T4s and TT18s an astonishing number of times. As a result I retained a bit of an interest in the Canberra afterwards, and if one went in I'd often wonder whether it was a jet I'd flown or flown in.

I had a bit of a spotters knowledge of Canberra serial numbers, as a result!

WJ753 (a B2) was the jet that went in at Marhan when returning from Det (Akrotiri) with two crews on board, the second pilot on the canvas rumbold seat.

IIRC (and I may not be, it's all a bit hazy) the engines accelerated unevenly during a punchy 'return from Det' run and break, and the aircraft ended up asymmetric......

There are photos of the whole sequence - at one stage the aircraft had 90° of bank, the wingtip feet off the runway. Inevitably the wingtip hit, and the aircraft cartwheeled, but fortunately came to rest erect (though in pieces) and all four crew survived. I have a recollection that one of them was sufficiently injured (broken ankles?) that he couldn't walk away.

There was an article about the accident in one of the 1980s part-works ('Take Off') with the photos and a diagram showing 'what went wrong'.

Whatever happened to WT478 was rather less serious, I suspect....

[2 Liter Peter]

"I have the official accident reports"

Phil, any chance of you scanning-in or at least summarizing those official reports for us ? That might jog our 25-year-old memories a little more than just the registration and date, perhaps we could remember a bit more then.

[philhird]

Hi All, thanks for your help. As the presentation is tomorrow, I've run out of time for more research. I have tried to locate the magazine pictures and diagram but to no avail.

I have had to return the reports to the SFSO, but as I have no scanner there was no way to copy them to here.

For those who are interested, WJ753 piled in at Marham returning from scotland with four on board. All survived, despite cartwheeling and pirouetting, and pilot being fired down the runway still in his seat. (3 crew were very seriously injured whilst the supernumerary nav got away with a broken ankle-still managed to leg it clear!)

WT478 landed wheels up, also at Marham I think, after student pilot raised gear instead of flap whilst trying to correct a botched asy circuit. QFI didn't notice wheels were up and belly landed it. Aircraft was repaired and went on for a few more years.

Cheers again for your help.

PH

[LFFC]

The fatal 100 Sqn crash at Akrotiri occurred in early Nov 80 and I'm pretty sure the aircraft was WH667 - a B2.

There was also a fatal crash off Gibraltar in about 1983 - that was a 360 Sqn jet.

Hope that helps.

Regards.

[Twin Peaks]

Whilst on the subject of Marham, it is exactly a year to the day since 39Sqn PRU lost two of their finest in T4 WJ866.


I shall be raising a glass to both of them this evening:(

[Beeayeate]

LFFC
The fatal 100 Sqn crash at Akrotiri occurred in early Nov 80 and I'm pretty sure the aircraft was WH667 - a B2.

You recall correctly. WH667, a B.2, crashed on take off at Akrotiri after an engine blew up - 7 Nov 80 - 2 killed.

There was also a fatal crash off Gibraltar in about 1983 - that was a 360 Sqn jet.

That would be T.17 WJ625 which crashed into the sea on take off - 3 Aug 1983. Not sure of fatalities if any.

John Farley
Googling WT478 does not mention an accident

Wheels up accident not mentioned because the kite wasn't lost or Cat 5'ed in a crash.

[SirPeterHardingsLovechild]

More on the T4 wheels up

(I'm a bit confused, could there have been two incidents? Might have to edit later)

It was at Wyton, not Marham, and I watched it happen.

I think it was early in the evening, and there are a couple of anecdotes.

The crew were unaware of their mistake, by the time the aircraft came to a standstill, they had worn a flat spot on the belly and stayed wings level. Reports from ATC reveal that the crew intially reported that the brakes must have seized on as they were unable to taxi off.

It became clearer when a fireman walked up to the canopy and knocked on the perspex - 'Bloody Hell, he's tall!' thought the pilot. (The fireman wanted the pilot to stop revving the engines and perhaps shut them down.)

A few weeks on jacks in Canberra Servicing Flight with the Crash and Smash boys from Abingdon and she was back in service.

[Yellow Sun]

That would be T.17 WJ625 which crashed into the sea on take off - 3 Aug 1983. Not sure of fatalities if any.

No survivors, the nav was a brother of one of my crew members.

YS

[Brain Potter]

The Canberra T4 was officially retired from RAF service yesterday.

http://www.rafmarham.co.uk/relations/stories-2005/t4-last-flight/index.htm


Twin Peaks - I too will be having a moment of reflection tonight. It does seem ironic that the last flight of the T4 was a day short of exactly a year since the WJ866 accident, and thus was on the same day of the week.

A good friend sorely missed.

[SirPeterHardingsLovechild]

http://www.rafmarham.co.uk/relations/stories-2005/t4-last-flight/t4-012315-cutout2.gif

What a beautiful sight.

'Enquiries about the disposal of the aircraft should be made to the Defence Disposal Services Agency (DSA)'

I trust that she is going to a good home.

[Beeayeate]

Yes SirPHLC, the Canberra was a smooth looking aircraft, Queen of the Skies indeed! :ok:

There are so many pix knocking about of WJ874 clothed in "Petter Blue", thought you may care to see the same aircraft when it was just another T.4. :rolleyes:

http://www.canberra.plus.com/pics/wj874-1.jpg

(A Nick Challoner image)

[LFFC]

SirPeterHardingsLovechild More on the T4 wheels up Engine failure during the finals turn drill - "Power up, flap up, continue the turn and hope to land somewhere on the airfield!"

I'm sure it was during night flying. Oh what fun we used to have!




PS. .....and whatever you do, don't mention nosewheel rumble!

[Terry Senior]

Hi Guys

I have all the photos of WJ753 crashing at marham as I was there at the time......john if you need them please drop me a line

Terry
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/Tezmo/wj753.jpg
:D

[wub]

The view from a TT18 of 7 Sqn

http://www.pbase.com/glenns/image/31580185.jpg

[Flarkey]

Is the RAF still goining to maintain a Photographic Reconnaissance capability after the disbandment of 39 (1 PRU) Sqn?

I'd have thought they may have kept 39 Sqn and used modified Tronado GR4As with perhaps an extra wet film pod on it (or given the backseater a disposable camera)....


Just wondering like....

Flarkey

[Tarnished]

Terry Senior

Check you PMs

Regards

Tarmished